Filters...

A

a lex

Messages
637
Name
Alex
Edit My Images
Yes
First off im hoping this doesn't turn into the whole is a filter worth it etc etc etc...!

What im wondering is whether the decent filters are so much better then a cheaper one... im buying a 17-55 2.8 IS lens and whilst its not the best lens its not half bad so im thinking I should probably put a half decent filter on it... question is... is it worth paying ~£50 for the pro hoya UV filter when a £10 hoya will do the job?

Also, if the decent filter is a good idea can anyone point me in the direction of one you'd recommend?

Thanks!
 
Any half decent modern lens will have been made out of top quality optical glass and will have numerous coatings on the elements which aid colour saturation, reduce flare, and drastically reduce light loss as it passes through the lens.

Expensive filters are made to the same standards - cheapo ones aren't.

One of the several coatings on your lens is almost certainly going to be for UV anyway which renders the filter redundant, which I suspect you know anyway and you're thinking about protection.

I don't like putting filters in front of lenses unless I really need to in terms of protection, prefering to rely on the lens hood and a a bit of careful handling. However if the environment is going to be wet, sea spray, flying mud or grit etc. it makes perfect sense to bang a protection fllter on. Given the amount of crud likely to be hitting the filter in any of those environments I'm not sure I'd worry too much about the quality of the filter or be wanting to fork out mega bucks for a top end one?
 
If you're looking for protection of the front element give hoya HD some consideration. HD means heavy duty and they use toughened glass.
 
a lex said:
First off im hoping this doesn't turn into the whole is a filter worth it etc etc etc...!

What im wondering is whether the decent filters are so much better then a cheaper one... im buying a 17-55 2.8 IS lens and whilst its not the best lens its not half bad so im thinking I should probably put a half decent filter on it... question is... is it worth paying ~£50 for the pro hoya UV filter when a £10 hoya will do the job?

Also, if the decent filter is a good idea can anyone point me in the direction of one you'd recommend?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Are you serious? That's an £800 lens and pretty much the sharpest zoom you can get. Fantastic lens :thumbs:

If there's a real danger of some form of airborn damage such as CT describes, fit a Hoya HD protection filter. Otherwise, don't - get a lens hood.
 
To the OP, one other consideration with this lens in particular is that of dust ingress/collection behind the front element. The 17-55 would seem to be prone to this and the presence of a filter is reputed to help.

When I had 40D I eventually traded up to a used 17-55 which when it arrived had on solitary dust spec behind the front element. One year on when I parted with it, still only one dust spot. That was with either a Hoya Pro1 D fitted or a CPL all the time.

I didn't at any time notice any optical problems that could be attributed to the filter.

By the way it is really great lens, miss mine a lot. Enjoy it.
 
HoppyUK said:
Are you serious? That's an £800 lens and pretty much the sharpest zoom you can get. Fantastic lens :thumbs:

If there's a real danger of some form of airborn damage such as CT describes, fit a Hoya HD protection filter. Otherwise, don't - get a lens hood.
Click to expand...

topcatproduction said:
That what I thought.. :suspect:
Click to expand...

:lol: I didn't say it was a bad lens I just said its not the best. I mean, its not a nice 1200mm is it.... :naughty:


Looking forward to getting it, should be here tomorrow...:D


Thanks for the pointers everyone, will have a look at a Hoya HD.
 
I've already posted at great length my opinions on expensive multi-coated filters, which are very prone to getting scratched.

Suffice to say, I assisted Charlie Waite on one of his workshops once and noticed that I wasn't the only one using a Jessops uv filter....

And if HD measns "heavy duty" I hate to think how easily a LD filter would get scratched.
 
jerry12953 said:
I've already posted at great length my opinions on expensive multi-coated filters, which are very prone to getting scratched.

Suffice to say, I assisted Charlie Waite on one of his workshops once and noticed that I wasn't the only one using a Jessops uv filter....

And if HD measns "heavy duty" I hate to think how easily a LD filter would get scratched.
Click to expand...


I don't often scratch my filters - usually they get chipped - like a car windscreen on the motorway...

I found the Hoya HMC a bit 'squeaky' when cleaning them with a cloth, but otherwise good...
Now I have a mix of old HMC, new Hoya Pro-1 and Nikon NC filters...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top